More than 200 coffee farmers including indigenous people (IPs) in Sultan Kudarat and Bukidnon have recently graduated from Coffee Production Level II training of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

A total of 100 IPs in Brgy. Hinalaan, Nalilidan and Datuwasay in the municipality of Kalamansig in Sultan Kudarat graduated last October 21 and 22 led by the Provincial Training Center (PTC) – Lambayong, TESDA said.

Meanwhile in Bukidnon, a total of 173 beneficiaries have so far finished their training on Coffee Production Level II under the Training for Work Scholarship Program (TWSP) of the Bukidnon Integrated Coffee Center (BICC)-Nestle Philippines.

In a statement, TESDA Secretary Isidro Lapeña congratulated coffee farmers in Sultan Kudarat and Bukidnon who have finished the training.

“Congratulations to the graduates and to those who will graduate in the future. I hope that the knowledge and skills you gained from the training will increase your coffee yields and help improve our country’s coffee production,” Lapeña said.

IPs in Sultan Kudarat were beneficiaries of TESDA Region XII’s Project IPEACE or Indigenous People Empowered as Agriprenuer towards a Collective End and KABUHAYAN or Kape ang Bubuo ng Hangarin sa Pagyabong Program of Nestlè Philippines.

Likewise, another 150 beneficiaries from the municipalities of Lebak, Esperanza and Senator Ninoy Aquino also in Sultan Kudarat will finish their training on Coffee Production Level II next month.

On May 19, TESDA and Nestlè Philippines signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) to upskill coffee farm workers and boost coffee production in the country.

Based on the agreement, TESDA will train the identified beneficiaries of Nestlé Philippines initially in Bukidnon and the Province of Sultan Kudarat where 80 percent of the country's coffee is grown.

Their training in Coffee Production Level II, which lasts for 176 hours or 25-days, is being done through a combination of face-to-face and distance learning where they can learn about modern coffee growing and entrepreneurship.

Meanwhile, Lapeña is hoping that the scholarship program could help more coffee farmers in the country.

"We are hoping to implement this in some other parts of the country where coffee farming is the main source of income. We commit to bring all the necessary interventions and support to coffee farmers, workers and farm owners, and ensure their success and continuous productivity through increased yields of quality coffee beans," he said.